Thousands demonstrate peacefully in support of opposition
Opposition calls for better accountability
Demonstration was incident free
Business as usual despite opposition demonstration
Northern region to drive away alien herdsmen
Goaso Traditional Council advises Asanteman on destoolment case
Thousands demonstrate peacefully in support of opposition
Accra (Greater Accra), 25th November 99
Activities around certain parts of Accra, especially the ministries, were temporarily halted as thousands of opposition party supporters marched to voice out their misgivings about the state of political and economic administration of the country.
Carrying placards that summed up their impressions about the state of affairs, the demonstrators conducted themselves in a manner that put away fears that things would turn violent.
The strong police presence was rendered unnecessary as the demonstrators marched on peacefully amid the singing and chanting of patriotic songs.
The lead banner at the head of the demonstrators read: "Say no to presidential jet, say no to waste and corruption, say no to higher Vat Charges, say no to petroleum charges, say no to Pricewaterhouse, say no to higher academic user fee."
The rear banner read: "Say yes to accountability, say yes to better governance, say yes to probity."
Some of the placards read: "AFRC betrayed us." "J.J. Resign, J.J. We are dying," "J.J. We thank you for our hardship, "Garbrah, leave education alone," "No health user fee," "Touch one touch all," Ya bre, Ghanafo mon sore.
The Central Business District of Accra, which had been the scene of fatal confrontations during a similar protest some years ago, was avoided as the route mapped out for the demonstrators by the security agencies took them out of there.
Workers came out of their offices along the approved route, leading from Ring Road through Asylum Down, Cathedral Square, the TUC headquarters, Cedi House, National Theatre and the Ministries to the Accra Sports Stadium, to look and cheer the protestors on.
The united front of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the organising parties was obvious in the presence of Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, Dr Edward Mahama, and Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby Presidential candidate of the NPP, PNC and UGM Presidential candidates respectively, Mr. Goozie Tanoh, Spokesman of the National Reform Party, and Mr. Felix Amoah, Acting National Chairman of the CP, as well as some minority MPs.
Mr. Dan Botchwey, NPP General Secretary, did not hesitate to mention how peaceful the demonstration had been in spite of threats and fears expressed by the ruling NDC, commercial and traditional leaders.
"The NDC had tried to stop us through inflammatory statements and by placing soldiers at vantage points. The constitution on paper alone cannot work, it is actions like these which would make the constitution what it should be."
He said initially, the JAC did not agree with the routes dictated by the police "but if we don't co-operate and something happens the blame would be put on us."
Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. of the CP said the JAC would continue to protest and put pressure on the government and parliament if nothing is done about their petition to parliament.
Mr. Mijie Barnor of the NRP said "the government is pursuing unsustainable economic policies, including the proposed increase in taxes, academic user fees and worker redeployment which would get worse if suggestions to the contrary by opposition parties are not heeded."
He said the current economic pursuits of the government "would be acceptable to all only if there is a national rethink of the economic strategies."
For almost two hours, the crowd waited patiently, amid patriotic speeches and songs at the Osu end of the Accra Sports Stadium, while 15 members of the JAC went to present their petition to parliament.
Upon their return, they took turns to praise the police and the crowd for the mature manner in which they conducted themselves.
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Opposition calls for better accountability
Accra (Greater Accra), 25th November 99
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of five political parties that held an anti-government demonstration in Accra on Thursday has tasked Parliament to ensure "better accountability, greater democracy and better protection" for Ghanaians.
In a petition to the Speaker, Mr. Justice D.F. Annan, the parties prayed that MPs would rise above partisan interests and act as an institution vested with the democratic hopes of millions of Ghanaians.
The petition was signed by Mr. Felix Amoah, Acting National Chairman of the Convention Party (CP), Mr. Samuel Odoi-Sykes, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Peter Gameli Kpordugbe, Interim Chairman, National Reform Party (NRP).
The rest were Dr Edward Mahama, Leader of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Nii Armah Tagoe, Chairman of the United Ghana Movement.
Dr. Mahama presented the petition to the Speaker at Parliament House to climax the demonstration that took the party leaders as well as hundreds of their supporters through selected streets of the city.
The parties urged Parliament to demand greater consultation and openness in the policy formulation and implementation process, especially, in its dealings with Parliament.
"We also pray for a radical enhancement of Parliament's ability to monitor and supervise national economic management."
The parties called for the immediate withdrawal of increases in university academic user fees for the 1999-2000 academic year, while a democratic process is instituted to determine how tertiary education would be funded.
They also demanded the withdrawal of increases in hospital user fees nation-wide.
The petition urged Parliament to reject the motion to approve "ex-post-facto illegal expenditures and commitments of the national purse" regarding the acquisition of the presidential jet, adding that the House should insist that the Executive respects the constitutional role of Parliament in the management of the economy.
Parliament should also reject any increase in the rate of the Value Added Tax and demand a freeze on all layoffs and redundancies in the public sector including those associated with the divestiture of State-Owned Enterprises.
The parties urged Parliament to act to stabilise the ex-pump price of petroleum products by reducing related specific taxes. This, they added, requires the full disclosure of the formula used in setting fuel prices.
The parties said while the above measures constitute only a small respite for the socio-economic problems, they provide some direction for public institutions and those who place the welfare of ordinary Ghanaians at the centre of their thinking about national affairs.
"We believe that such people form the majority of Ghanaians and that despite the difficulties placed on their way, such people form the true majority in this house."
The parties said they had embarked on this course of action to highlight concerns about "the erosion of democracy" and its patent consequences caused by a few members of the Executive whom they accused of managing the economy only for their personal gains.
They said these few members of the Executive pay lip service to constitutional principles, alleging that they are corrupt in terms of contract and procurement procedures, among others.
They also spoke against the conduct of the divestiture process saying it was being used to enrich members of the ruling party while the ordinary Ghanaian household grapples with poverty as a result of falling wages and rising levels of consumption tax.
The petitioners said the government "is becoming increasingly and systematically repressive."
They said in its bid to prevent challenge to the status quo, "the oligarchy has set out to harass and weaken" civil society.
The parties said they have resolved to work together with civil society to deepen accountability and good governance in the spirit of the constitution.
They further pledged to "continue to mount pressure democratically by exposing abuse of our economic and political rights and mobilising further protests".
The parties accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of paying lip service to constitutional principles, adding that the regime is "becoming increasingly systematically repressive" and condemned corrupt practices in the society, social inequalities, poverty, and the ill-gotten wealth of the rulers.
On lip service, the demonstrators pointed out that "the actions of the ruling elite had assumed a pattern seen often in the history of young countries struggling for development and good governance.
"In this pattern, those in power maintain the semblance of democratic institutions and pay lip service to constitutional principles to keep the international community quiet while it systematically plunders the country and oppresses the people."
The JAC expressed concern about the falling real wages of ordinary Ghanaians who ought to contend with higher fees for social services such as education, health care, transport and housing.
"The growing insecurity of our communities is a result of this poverty", which, coupled with inequality, is the direct cause of the upsurge of communal violence in the country.
Mr. Justice D. F. Annan, Speaker of Parliament who received the petition, thanked the leaders of the JAC for recognising the role of Parliament in the democratic process.
"I hope the demonstration was peaceful. We welcome you. This is a place where everybody in the country has a representative."
He said Parliament, apart from its day to day chamber business, has other avenues of contributing to national debates.
"We have the annual forum on good governance, which will go regional very soon to give the ordinary person the chance to witness and participate in the self-examination process of Parliament."
The Speaker said his breakfast forum, organised every year, also identifies issues and allows in-depth discussions around his table.
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Demonstration was incident free
Accra (Greater Accra), 25th November 99
The protest march of the five opposition political parties on Thursday recorded no violence and has been described as "peaceful and successful" by the organisers and the police. Political party leaders expressed satisfaction about the conduct of the police and the demonstrators.
Mr. Cephas Kwashivie Agbelie, Greater Accra Regional Commander of Police, said: "everything was well."
He said the co-operation of the demonstrators with the Police provided good result adding that the people were cooperative.
Mr. Samuel Odoi Sykes, National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, said the demonstration was successful and "we did not embark on violence."
Dr. Edward Mahama, Leader and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), said the conduct of the demonstration has proved the government wrong.
He said the "large number" of demonstrators was a manifestation of the fact that people are fed up with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
Dr Mahama said the demonstrators could not sit down for the corruption and widespread level of poverty to continue. The demonstration therefore offered the participants the opportunity to express themselves.
Dr Mahama expressed optimism that come the year 2000 there will be a change of government and better conditions for the "suffering masses."
Mr. Augustus "Goosie" Tanor, Spokesman of the National Reform Party (NRP), said through the demonstration the message on poverty, crime, mismanagement and corruption have gone down to the people.
Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Presidential Candidate of the United Ghana Movement, described the march as "fantastic", "enthusiastic," "successful and a defiance of the intimidation" and negative propaganda against its effective organisation.
"The march proved that in a democracy, power belongs to the people and when they are determined nothing can change them."
He said the NDC can only redeem its tainted image by reducing waste and corruption
Mr. Felix Amoah, acting National Chairman of the Convention Party, said no amount of intimidation could restrain the opposition from expressing their views.
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Business as usual despite opposition demonstration
Accra (Greater Accra), 25th November 99
Markets and shops opened in Accra as usual on Thursday despite a demonstration by five opposition parties to protest against the government's handling of the economy and the general high cost of living.
Police had planned the route of the march in such a way that it did not go through the main business district of the city.
The demonstration, which started from Barnetts, near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, moved through Asylum Down round about to the Cathedral Square, TUC, Ministries and ended at the Accra Sports Stadium. Their leaders then proceeded to Parliament House to present a petition to the Speaker.
A visit to the central business district showed that all the shops were open and people were going about their work as usual with policemen stationed at vantage points to prevent any disturbance should it arise.
Market women had said they would not close their shops or stalls. They said just as the marchers have the right to demonstrate, they also have the right to do their business in the markets.
In statement that has been challenged by another section of market women, they warned that they would not tolerate any demonstrator coming to the markets.
Workers along the routes where the demonstrators passed joined in the march and sang and danced along with them.
The huge police enforcement that accompanied the marchers every inch of the way had little to do as no violence was recorded.
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Northern region to drive away alien herdsmen
Tamale (Northern Region), 25th November 99
The Northern Regional Security Committee in conjunction with the district assemblies is to mount a new campaign to drive away alien herdsmen from the region,
The campaign, which will start from the end of this year, will be along the lines of ''Operation cow-leg'', undertaken by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the security agencies in 1989 to get rid of the herdsmen, whose cattle were destroying farms and the vegetation.
Mr. Adam Kaleem, a former Regional Deputy Secretary for Agriculture in the PNDC era, during whose tenure operation cow-leg was initiated, told a consultative meeting in Tamale on Wednesday.
He said the exercise would also eradicate the threat of spreading rinderpest, anthrax and foot and mouth diseases, since most of their cattle have not been vaccinated.
The meeting attended by district chief executives and their co-ordinating directors of administration, planned strategies for the exercise.
Mr Kaleem said the herdsmen are armed and are, therefore, a security risk to the communities.
He deplored the practice whereby some chiefs allow themselves to be influenced by accepting cattle from the herdsmen as gifts and asked the DCEs to enlist the co-operation of the chiefs as well as other community leaders to make the operation successful.
Mr Joshua Alabi, Regional Minister, directed the chief executives to submit a comprehensive report on the activities of the herdsmen in their area.
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491 boreholes for Wa
Wa (Upper West), 25th November 99
The Wa District Assembly will have to provide 491 boreholes and 173 hand-dug wells all fitted with pumps to meet 70 per cent of the water needs of the district within the next ten years.
The district, which records more than 25 per cent of guinea worm cases in the Upper West region annually, has only 36 per cent of the population enjoying potable water.
Alahiji Ali Seidu Pelpuo, District Chief Executive, made this known during the assembly's annual review and planning workshop at Wa on Wednesday.
The two-day workshop had 61 participants including assembly members and personnel from decentralised departments and non-governmental organisations.
It would review achievements, failures and constraints during the year, plan for the year 2000 and evolve ways of strengthening inter-agency collaboration.
Alhajiu Pelpuo said, the assembly would need 50 boreholes and 18 hand-dug wells with pumps annually at an average cost of 6,000 dollars each.
He, therefore, appealed to partners in the water sector to come out with programmes that would lighten the heavy burden the assembly was now shouldering.
Mr James B. Dassah, Regional Economic Planning Officer, observed that most decentralised departments in the region lacked the personnel with the requisite skills to enable them to function effectively under the decentralisation programme.
He noted that lack of staff has made some regional officers to double as district officers and often isolating themselves from the district assemblies.
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Goaso Traditional Council advises Asanteman on destoolment case
Goaso (Brong Ahafo) 25th November 99
The Goaso Traditional Council has advised the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II not to entertain any destoolment charges being preferred against the Goasohene, Krotwiamansa Adjei Ampofo by the ex-queenmother, Nana Akyaa since the matter is before the Sunyani High Court.
It said Nana Osei Sekyere, Abusuapanin of Goaso, has already filed a suit at the Sunyani High Court for Nana Akyaa to prove her assertion that Krotwiamansa Adjei-Ampofo is not a royal and should accordingly be destooled.
The Council gave the advice at a press conference at Goaso on Wednesday to state its stand on the destoolment suit, which was filed at Manhyia by the ex-queenmother against the Goasohene.
The Krontihene of the Goaso traditional area, Nana Yenkyira Poku, who read the press statement, warned Krotwiamansa Adjei-Ampofo that no member of the Council would accompany him to the Asanteman Council for the trial if he intends to attend.
He stated that the Goasohene could be cited for contempt of court and called on him not to attend such a trial.
Nana Poku said, "some of the members of the Asanteman Council have their own agenda to tarnish the integrity and reputation of the Goasohene in spite of continued warnings by Otumfuo."
Nana Poku said the Goasohene "as a prominent member of Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, and the issues involved being matters affecting chieftaincy, we advised Nana Akyaa to institute the action at the Regional House of Chiefs to conform with the chieftaincy act."
He referred to the attack on Krotwiamansa Adjei-Ampofo during the swearing of the oath of allegiance to the body of the Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, when he was laid in state.
Nana Poku said pronouncements, teasing and insinuations by some Nananom during the trial in the case of the Great Oath, "Ntamkese", portrayed that most of them were biased and Krotwiamansa Adjei-Ampofo should not expect any fair trial.
He said in the second trial of the case the complainant, Nana Yaa Akyaa, though was found guilty, no cost was awarded against her, however, the Goasohene and his elders were heavily fined for minor offences.
Meanwhile, the Asempa Chambers, solicitors of Krotwiamansa Adjei-Ampofo has advised their client, Otumfuo Osei Tutu and the Asanteman Council not to go ahead with the destoolment case since they will face "the wrath of the law of contempt".
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